The document discusses the various new media technologies used at different stages of a project. Photoshop, Final Cut Express, GarageBand, Blogger, YouTube, a digital camera, video camera, Prezi, iMac, PhotoBooth and iPhone were used for construction, research, planning and evaluation. Familiarity with the technologies from previous use helped enable fast work. The iMac was a good central device with needed software pre-installed.

1. How did you use new media
technologies in the
construction and research,
planning and evaluation
stages?

2. Photoshop
Photoshop was the main piece of software on the Macs that I needed to make my print products
(Poster and Magazine Cover).
When I first starting to make each of my print products, I had to set a blank canvas, which was sized(1).
I then begun to make my products by using different tools from the toolbar. From the toolbar, there
were a number of different things I could do. I could draw boxes(2) add text (3), paint things (4). I was
able to sample colours(5) when constructing my products. When I added something, from text to an
image, it is called a layer and is automatically added into the layers list(6), from here I can move the
different layers to the front or back of other layers to suit where I want them.
I had used Photoshop a great amount in the past, so when it came to using it to make my print
(6)
products
(5)
I found it very easy, and I was able
(1)
to
put them together fast which saved
a lot of time , which therefore
allowed me more time when doing
(2) (3)
(4)
other work for my products.

3. Final Cut Express
Final Cut Express was the main piece of software that I used to make the film trailer in my film package.
On Final Cut, I was able to edit all of the recorded footage I had taken and put it all together to make
my film trailer. I started off by first putting all of my footage into the software on the Macs(1), I then
looked through the footage to see if it was all good enough to use, and editable. I was then able to cut
down the clips to the correct length using the cut tool(2), this ensured that the footage fit together
and the continuity was correct throughout. On the footage, I could add effects over the top(3), this
made some of the clips more clearer to the audience when being viewed. When inserting sounds into
the timeline, I could make individual sounds louder/quieter than others by changing the volume on the
different lines(4).
Never having used Final Cut Express
(2) At the far right of the Final Cut
before, I found it difficult at first, but
footage toolbar, there is a small
(1) By clicking on:
once I got the hang of it I found it
picture of a blade, clicking on this
File>Import>Files and then
easy and was able to edit my footage
choosing the footage I wanted to allowed me to choose where I
wanted to cut my footage down to. fast.
import into the software.
(3) By clicking on
Filters at the top of
the video viewer.
(4) Clicking on the green speakers at
the far left of the footage bar would
allow you to change the volume of
each sound in that section.

4. GarageBand
Using GarageBand allowed me to make a soundtrack for my film trailer.
In garage band, I was able to choose from a number of different sounds(1) which suited my film
trailer. Using the cut tool(2) I was able to shorten sounds if they were too long. Using the different
buttons(3), I could play/pause, rewind/fast forward, record and change the volume of the sounds
playing.
Having never used GarageBand before, I struggled at first to understand how to use it, but once I
learnt all of the different tools, I found it simple and was able to do things quickly. It was a great
piece of software to make the soundscape for my trailer as it allowed me to choose any sound I
liked, making sure it fit the genre of my horror film.
(1)
(2)
(3)

5. Blogger
Blogger is the website which I used to store all of my research and planning towards my film package.
Within blogger, I made a number of different posts(1) which I individually titled(2)according to what I
was doing/showing inside them. I changed fonts inside the posts(3) to make things stand out more
than others, so they didn’t all look exactly the same. I was able to embed media files into the posts(4),
like videos and images – this was an advantage to using blogger, instead of paper.
I had used blogger to store my research and planning for my work in the first year, so when using it
this year I had no problems and I was able to do everything fast and easily. I think blogger is a good
way of storing all of my research and planning, having it online ensures it is all in one place and easy to
find, rather than it all on paper and easy to lose. Because blogger is online, this meant that I was able
to share my work with my teachers easily, because they could access it from their internet source.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

6. YouTube
On YouTube I could search for different sounds and music to download(1), I then copied
and pasted the link into a YouTube downloader(2) and then I could then put these
sounds into GarageBand or Final Cut Express and include them over the top of my film
trailer.
I had used YouTube countless times in the past, so when it came to using it for my media
projects, I was able to do everything very quickly and easily without any problems.
YouTube came in very handy when there was a certain sound effect which other
software like GarageBand didn’t have, I could search it on YouTube and it was very likely
it would show up.
(1)
(2)

7. Digital Camera
I used a digital camera to capture the photographs to be used for my film poster and my film magazine
cover.
I took these photos in the photography studio inside college, I was able to have a plain black/white
backdrop behind the models which ensured it looked professional, and there was also nothing behind
or around the models which would distract the audience when the pictures were used on the poster
and magazine cover. There were large lights set in the photography studio which I was able to move
around and experiment where they looked best when shining on the models. Also, a large flash was in
the studio, which meant when I pressed the shutter button on the camera, the flash would go off,
making the images look bright and clear.
On the camera, I experimented with settings such as the aperture to see what looked best. The
aperture determines how much light is let through the lens, so I could determine whether I wanted my
photos lighter or darker.
I took a large amount of images, I used the burst mode setting on the camera, this allowed me to keep
taking photographs consistently, so I was bound to get a few good ones which I could use.
Using the lens on the camera, I was able to turn it which zoomed in and out, this was good for
choosing if I wanted the models close up, or a long shot.

8. Video Camera
I used a video camera to record all of the footage that I was going to use for my film
trailer.
Once I had recorded all of the footage I needed, I took the SD card out of the camera
and inserted it into the iMac, I then moved the footage from the SD card into my
documents, from here, I was able to open the video footage in Final Cut Express.
On the video camera, I could playback the footage once I had recorded it by pressing
the play/pause, rewind/fast-forward buttons, this helped me to see if what I had just
recorded was good enough to use or not, if it wasn’t good enough, then I could easily
record it again.
The only video camera that I had ever used before was on my mobile phone, or my
digital camera. So when it came to using this video camera, I thought I was going to
struggle, but it was very simple and easy and it was just like using the video recording
setting on my own digital camera.

9. Prezi
On Prezi, I could easily start a new presentation(1). Once I had clicked to start a ‘New
Prezi’, I was given the option to choose a certain template from a vast range(2), this
meant that I would be able to make my presentation as creative as possible. Inside the
presentation, I could insert a number of different things from Images to files(3). When
making a Prezi, you can make a path of which order you view the different items you
have added to the presentation(4). I had used Prezi the year
(4)
before when doing my media coursework, so when using it this
year, I found it very simple and easy and was (3)
able to work very fast and not waste time.
(2)
(1)

10. iMac
I needed to use an iMac every single day, for doing every single thing. The iMac had all of
the different software that I needed to make my products on it:
• Safari (Internet) (1)
• Photoshop (2)
• Final Cut Express (3)
• Garageband (4)
Using the iMac was easy because I had used it countless times the year before in most of
my subjects, I also have had to use one in all of my subjects this year. An iMac was better
to use for the products I was making because they already had all of the different
software on them, and they were a lot faster than the normal Windows computers.
(1)
(2)
(3) (4)

11. PhotoBooth
I used PhotoBooth on the iMac’s to record different videos such as audience feedback
once I had showed them my products. This was a better and more technical way to
record feedback, rather than just writing it down on pieces of paper. Having it on a piece
of paper was more likely to get lost, and it was harder to get the things I had recorded
onto the computer if I was written. Recording it on PhotoBooth on the iMacs meant it
was already in my documents and ready to place in my Blog online.
Using PhotoBooth was easy because all I had to was sit my audience in front of the
camera and then press record, the the camera would begin recording and I could begin
to record my feedback instantly.

12. iPhone
My own mobile phone came in handy when doing my media coursework.
I was able to download a number of different apps which could help me make things
such as call sheets and location recce’s. I was also able to take photographs of my
models for when I was casting the characters in my film.
An app which came in very useful was the official Blogger app. Having the Blogger app
made it easy for me to access all of my work from anywhere I wanted, so anytime I was
free I was able to do bits of work from my mobile phone.
Because I have had an iPhone for over a year now, downloading all of the new apps and
working out how to use them was very easy.

13. Conclusion
In conclusion, I think using a lot of the different pieces of software
and the different technologies was overall okay for me. I say this
because, having used a lot of the different things last year, it meant
that this year I already had knowledge on how to use most things.
This year, I would not come across any problems which I had last
year and this meant that I would be able to get on with my work
faster. There were new problems, but not as many as in the past.
Overall, I enjoyed using the iMacs, I find that they have a lot more
pieces of software installed than a normal windows computer does.
Having to use iMacs in all of my subjects at college, means that I am
most comfortable using these machines over any other.